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Wirral Labour group refute 'power grab' claim

A "POWER grab" by Wirral’s ruling Labour group has demolished the built-in checks and balances designed to prevent abuse in local government, a senior opposition councillor has claimed.

The allegation has been refuted by council leader Cllr Phil Davies.

Lib Dem councillor Stuart Kelly is furious over moves by Labour to remove Conservative and Liberal Democrat chairmen of council scrutiny committees.

He revealed that special rules in the council’s constitution allowing executive decisions to be made in certain circumstances, had been invoked almost a dozen times over the past 12 months.

Councillor Kelly explained: “These rules allow executive decisions to be made in a hurry without the normal publishing requirements and ‘call in’ procedures. For example last year they were used to ensure that the council was able to draw down additional Government funding for repairing pot holes.

“Before making a decision the Labour cabinet had to consult and obtain the agreement of an opposition member before making a decision that fell outside the usual rules’ “It is all part of the checks and balances built into the system to prevent abuse.”

Councillor Kelly went on: “This year executive decisions can now be made if one Labour cabinet members agrees with another Labour committee chair – the checks and balances have been removed.

“Democratic institutions work best when checks and balances are built in. Labour’s power grab has removed these balances and I believe this could place the council at risk. It’s a recipe for disaster.”

Councillor Davies said: “There is no legal requirement for us to give the chairs of scrutiny committees to opposition members.

“There are still significant safeguards, checks and balances in place even though they don’t chair these committees.

“We have a new procedures where opposition councillors can question any member of the cabinet at council meetings without advance notice.

“And we will continue with our leaders’ meeting in which the concerns of oppositions leaders can be raised with me.”

Comments

SO as usual, the answer is at the ballot box! Use your vote carefully.

SO as usual, the answer is at the ballot box! Use your vote carefully.reliant22

SO as usual, the answer is at the ballot box! Use your vote carefully.

Score: 4

johnhardaker
3:05pm Fri 1 Aug 14

Are we not suprised that the labour group want to head up all the committiees at £4.5k per committie that a nice little earner for the lobour councillors or is that the liberals & coservatives have had their noses put out of joint as they are not on the gravy train, answers on the back of the usual fag packet.

Are we not suprised that the labour group want to head up all the committiees at £4.5k per committie that a nice little earner for the lobour councillors or is that the liberals & coservatives have had their noses put out of joint as they are not on the gravy train, answers on the back of the usual fag packet.johnhardaker

Are we not suprised that the labour group want to head up all the committiees at £4.5k per committie that a nice little earner for the lobour councillors or is that the liberals & coservatives have had their noses put out of joint as they are not on the gravy train, answers on the back of the usual fag packet.

Score: 7

PaulCa
3:33pm Fri 1 Aug 14

Here's some reassurance that scrutiny is effective. We've installed Councillor Ron Abbey (who thought an "investment vehicle" was a TAXI) as Vice Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee - CHECK.

Here's some further reassurance that public oversight is being satisfied. We've installed Councillor Jim "The public's data security is a load of tosh" Crabtree as CHAIR!! of the Audit and Risk Management Committee - BALANCE.

Here's some reassurance that scrutiny is effective. We've installed Councillor Ron Abbey (who thought an "investment vehicle" was a TAXI) as Vice Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee - CHECK.
Here's some further reassurance that public oversight is being satisfied. We've installed Councillor Jim "The public's data security is a load of tosh" Crabtree as CHAIR!! of the Audit and Risk Management Committee - BALANCE.PaulCa

Here's some reassurance that scrutiny is effective. We've installed Councillor Ron Abbey (who thought an "investment vehicle" was a TAXI) as Vice Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee - CHECK.

Here's some further reassurance that public oversight is being satisfied. We've installed Councillor Jim "The public's data security is a load of tosh" Crabtree as CHAIR!! of the Audit and Risk Management Committee - BALANCE.

Score: 8

bigfoot
3:53pm Fri 1 Aug 14

Welcome to the 'peoples republic of Wirral' except it is only for some people!

Welcome to the 'peoples republic of Wirral' except it is only for some people!bigfoot

Welcome to the 'peoples republic of Wirral' except it is only for some people!

Score: 6

Positive thinker
7:55am Sat 2 Aug 14

Can someone tell me,who in there right mind would be a councillor

Can someone tell me,who in there right mind would be a councillorPositive thinker

Can someone tell me,who in there right mind would be a councillor

Score: -3

PaulCa
3:13pm Sat 2 Aug 14

Positive thinker wrote…

Can someone tell me,who in there right mind would be a councillor

Someone like Jeanette Williamson would be a councillor. Not sure why though, as her Marxist / Socialist credentials are now either stretched to breaking point or completely in tatters.

Call me a cynic, but now that non-Labour councillors can't chair any committees (done in the interests of "democracy") this relatively new addition to "the team" has the opportunity to console herself by chairing the Transformation and Resources Policy and Performance Committee:

http://goo.gl/hl1Jsv

She can also stand together with the rest of "the team", back the "Torylite" executive with her votes, then go home at night and either:

[quote][p][bold]Positive thinker[/bold] wrote:
Can someone tell me,who in there right mind would be a councillor[/p][/quote]Someone like Jeanette Williamson would be a councillor. Not sure why though, as her Marxist / Socialist credentials are now either stretched to breaking point or completely in tatters.
Call me a cynic, but now that non-Labour councillors can't chair any committees (done in the interests of "democracy") this relatively new addition to "the team" has the opportunity to console herself by chairing the Transformation and Resources Policy and Performance Committee:
http://goo.gl/hl1Jsv
She can also stand together with the rest of "the team", back the "Torylite" executive with her votes, then go home at night and either:
o Sleep soundly
o Rage internally at how deluded she may have been
o Toss and turn, wondering why those direct quotes from Das Kapital are falling on deaf ears.PaulCa

Positive thinker wrote…

Can someone tell me,who in there right mind would be a councillor

Someone like Jeanette Williamson would be a councillor. Not sure why though, as her Marxist / Socialist credentials are now either stretched to breaking point or completely in tatters.

Call me a cynic, but now that non-Labour councillors can't chair any committees (done in the interests of "democracy") this relatively new addition to "the team" has the opportunity to console herself by chairing the Transformation and Resources Policy and Performance Committee:

http://goo.gl/hl1Jsv

She can also stand together with the rest of "the team", back the "Torylite" executive with her votes, then go home at night and either:

Ipsoregulated

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